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Animal Update: OCD in Pets

(KCBS) - With animals, we don't necessarily know what they're thinking. Still, we see compulsive behavior by our four-legged friends.


"So we just call it compulsive behaviors in animals but it has a lot of the same qualities or characteristics as humans in that we see this repetitive or ritualistic behavior that doesn't seem to serve any purpose," explained Jennifer Scarlett, DVM, co-president of the San Francisco SPCA.


"It's really interesting, we see different breeds expressing different behaviors," she continued.

Animal Update: OCD in Pets

"The main thing is getting to a diagnosis," Scarlett said of potential treatment options. "Once you make a diagnosis they can usually combine behavior modification with exercises, as well as pharmaceuticals to lower anxiety and stop this behavior."

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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